MiniBlog: Cucumbers – Grown from Seed, with Care Tips and Culinary Uses

Pickling Cucumbers

Cucumbers are a refreshing, versatile vegetable that thrives in warm weather, making them a staple in summer gardens. Whether you're growing slicing cucumbers for salads or pickling cucumbers for homemade dill pickles, cucumbers are a rewarding addition to your garden.

Planting Your Seedlings

Our garden center offers healthy, started cucumber plants ready for your garden. When planting, choose a sunny location with well-draining soil. Space your seedlings about 12 inches apart in rows or mounds, and provide support like a trellis or cage to keep the vines off the ground. This not only prevents disease but also makes harvesting easier.

Types of Cucumbers

Understanding the types of cucumbers can help you decide which variety best suits your garden and kitchen needs:

• Slicing Cucumbers: These cucumbers are large, smooth-skinned, and bred for fresh eating. Popular varieties are crisp and juicy, perfect for salads, sandwiches, and snacks. We grow Marketmore for just this reason.

• Pickling Cucumbers: Shorter and bumpier than slicing cucumbers, pickling varieties are ideal for brining. Their firm texture holds up well in the pickling process. Varieties like Boston Pickling, Sassy, and Homemade Pickles are commonly used.

• Burpless Cucumbers: These cucumbers are bred to have fewer seeds and less of the compound that causes bitterness and burping. They tend to be longer, thinner, and have a milder flavor, making them excellent for fresh eating. Varieties like English cucumbers and Armenian cucumbers fall into this category.

• Armenian Cucumbers (Snake Melon or Serpent Cucumber): Though technically a type of melon, Armenian cucumbers grow and taste like traditional cucumbers. They have thin, ridged skin that doesn’t require peeling and a mild, crisp texture. These heat-loving plants thrive in hot climates and are excellent for fresh eating, salads, and even light pickling. Their long, curling shape makes them a unique addition to any garden.

Caring for Your Cucumbers

• Watering: Keep soil consistently moist but not soggy, as cucumbers are sensitive to irregular watering, which can cause bitter-tasting fruit.

• Fertilizing: Use a balanced fertilizer once the plants start to flower to encourage fruit production.

• Pruning: Pinch back excessive growth and remove damaged leaves to direct energy into fruit development and improve air circulation.

Common Pests and Problems

Watch out for cucumber beetles, aphids, and powdery mildew. Row covers can protect young plants from beetles, while insecticidal soap can help manage aphids. Good spacing and airflow will help prevent mildew.

Culinary Uses

Cucumbers are perfect for fresh salads, sandwiches, and smoothies. They’re also ideal for pickling—whether you're making classic dill pickles, bread and butter pickles, or quick refrigerator pickles. Their high water content makes them a refreshing summer snack. Share your favorite recipe with us!

Fun Facts About Cucumbers

• Cucumbers are about 95% water, making them a hydrating snack during hot summer days.

• The phrase “cool as a cucumber” is rooted in fact—cucumber flesh can be up to 20 degrees cooler than the surrounding air!

• Cucumbers have been cultivated for over 3,000 years and are thought to have originated in India.

• The world’s longest cucumber on record measured over 3 feet long!

• Some cultures use cucumbers for skincare because of their soothing, anti-inflammatory properties.